Landing at DXB: where to meet your chauffeur.

First, check your terminal

Dubai International (DXB) has three passenger terminals, and they are not all in the same building. Your chauffeur needs to know which one you are landing at, so it is worth checking your ticket before you fly.

• Terminal 3 is the home of Emirates. Its gates are spread across Concourses A, B and C, all feeding one large arrivals hall.
• Terminal 1 handles most other international airlines. Many of its gates are in Concourse D, which is linked to the main terminal by an automated train.
• Terminal 2 is used mainly by flydubai and a number of regional carriers. It sits on the opposite side of the airfield from Terminals 1 and 3, around 15 to 20 minutes away by road.

flydubai also operates some of its flights from Terminal 3, so check the terminal on your booking rather than assuming from the airline. If you are not sure when you book with us, give us the flight number: we track it and confirm the terminal before your chauffeur sets off.

From the aircraft to the arrivals hall

How long it takes to reach the arrivals hall depends on where the aircraft parks, how busy immigration is and how quickly the bags arrive. As a rough guide, allow 30 to 60 minutes from landing to walking out of customs, and longer in the busiest waves of the night. Terminal 3 is large: from Concourse A, which is linked to the main building by train, the journey to immigration takes a while before you even reach the queue.

Eligible passengers can use the smart gates at immigration, which are often much faster. Children, first-time visitors and some nationalities will use the staffed desks. After immigration comes baggage reclaim, then customs, and then the doors open into the public arrivals hall.

You do not need to message your chauffeur when you land. Because your flight is tracked, the chauffeur already knows when the aircraft touched down and allows for the time it takes to get through. A slow baggage belt is not a problem; if you face a long delay, for instance with a missing bag to report, let us know so we can plan around it.

Where your chauffeur waits

Your chauffeur waits in the public arrivals hall, just beyond the customs exit, holding a name board with the name on your booking. If you are travelling with a group or booking for someone else, tell us whose name should be on the board.

At Terminal 3 the arrivals hall is long and busy. Walk out through the doors and look along the line of drivers holding boards; your chauffeur will be there. If you are flying First or Business with Emirates, tell us when you book and we can meet you at the dedicated exit for premium passengers instead.

At Terminals 1 and 2 the arrivals halls are smaller, and the meeting area is directly ahead as you come through the doors.

You may also notice newer pick-up services run by the airport itself, such as kiosks for pre-booked transfers. Your confirmation from us states exactly where your chauffeur will meet you, so follow that rather than the signs for other services.

From the hall to the car

Pre-booked cars generally cannot wait at the arrivals kerb at DXB, so the car is parked a short walk away in the terminal car park. Your chauffeur takes the trolley and walks you there; it is usually a matter of a few minutes. Airport parking is included in your quote, so there is nothing to pay on the way out.

The car will have been cooled before you reach it, with chilled water and phone chargers on board. If you have asked for child seats, they are fitted before the chauffeur goes into the terminal to meet you.

Waiting time and delays

Every airport booking includes a waiting allowance after landing, written on your quote. Because the flight is tracked, the chauffeur works from the time you actually land, not the scheduled time, so an early arrival or a long delay does not cost you anything extra. If you expect a slow exit, for example with a large family group or oversized baggage, mention it in the notes and we will plan around it.

If the airline cancels or diverts your flight, send us the new details as soon as you have them. Changes are free up to 24 hours before pick-up, and we will always try to accommodate later changes caused by the airline.

Travelling with children, or with a lot of luggage

Families arriving after a long flight have different needs. Child seats are fitted before you reach the car, free of charge, so tell us each child’s age when you book. Prams fold into the luggage space of the SUV and the V-Class; if you have a pram plus several large cases, the V-Class is the safer choice. For groups with a lot of luggage, such as golfers or a wedding party, we can send a second vehicle for the bags, so everyone travels in comfort and nobody waits in the car park while cases are rearranged.

Departures from DXB

Going the other way is simpler. Your chauffeur collects you from your hotel, home or office ten minutes before the agreed time and drives to the departures level of your terminal. Most airlines ask passengers to arrive around three hours before an international flight; we work the pick-up time back from that, allowing for the traffic at the time of day you travel.

Emirates passengers travelling First or Business at Terminal 3 have their own check-in area; tell the chauffeur and you will be dropped at the closest entrance.

Other Dubai and nearby airports

If you are flying into Al Maktoum International (DWC) at Dubai South, the arrangement is the same: a name board in the arrivals hall and a short walk to the car. DWC currently handles far fewer passenger flights than DXB, so double-check which Dubai airport your ticket shows. We also meet arrivals at Sharjah and at Zayed International in Abu Dhabi; see our Sharjah Airport and Abu Dhabi Airport transfer pages.

A short checklist before you fly

• Give us the flight number, not just the landing time, so we can track it
• Check the terminal on your ticket, especially for flydubai and codeshare flights
• Tell us the number and size of bags, and about prams, golf bags or wheelchairs
• Mention child seats and the children’s ages; they are free on request
• Keep the confirmation on your phone; it shows your booking reference and meeting point

For the full service, see Dubai airport chauffeur, or book online in about a minute. Arriving for a special occasion? Our Rolls-Royce airport transfer meets you in exactly the same way.

Related: Airport Chauffeur · Rolls-Royce airport transfer · Dubai to Sharjah Airport (SHJ) · Guides · Book online